News

KYOCERA to Receive State of California’s 2005 “Flex Your Power” Environmental Award

Company Honored for Energy Conservation and Environmental Policies

San Diego, California -- June 29, 2006 -- Kyocera will receive the State of California’s 2005 “Flex Your Power -- Demand Response Award” on June 30, 2006 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for successfully implementing a “load management” strategy through key activities and equipment, significantly reducing the demand for energy during peak usage times. The Flex Your Power awards will inaugurate California’s summer energy conservation season and the 2006 Energy Conservation Summit for major energy users.

Kyocera Group companies in San Diego have been able to reduce their energy demand by up to 8,400 kilowatts (kW) when electricity supplies are low. The company’s energy management systems can control ventilation, heating, air conditioning, lighting and other equipment. In addition, the group’s North American headquarters facility in San Diego generates 90% of its “peak” energy demand on-site using a natural-gas powered co-generation facility and its unique Solar Grove™, established in 2005 as the largest privately-owned solar photovoltaic system in San Diego County. Since 2002, Kyocera has also saved 554,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity by automating HVAC and lighting, installing variable frequency drives, and applying window tinting.

Kyocera’s environmental preservation efforts extend beyond the company’s operations to its products and businesses. For more than 30 years, Kyocera has been promoting sustainable growth by providing solar energy to the world. The Solar Grove™, a carport comprised of 25 “solar trees” in an employee parking lot, stands as a symbol of this commitment to promote harmony between the Earth and all living things.  Its unique concept models the life process of natural trees by converting sunlight into energy without adding carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere — while providing structures that are both shade-producing and aesthetically pleasing.

Utilizing a total of 1,400 Kyocera KC-187G solar photovoltaic (PV) modules and 200 custom-manufactured, light-filtering PV modules, the Solar Grove generates up to 235 kilowatts* of electricity during peak sunlight hours, and more than 425,000 kilowatt hours per year, while shading up to 186 vehicles.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Power Profiler, generating this amount of electricity through conventional fossil fuel resources would annually release 338,905 pounds of carbon dioxide, a suspected contributor to global warming; 421 pounds of nitrous oxide, which has been linked to the destruction of the Earth’s ozone layer; and 253 pounds of sulfur dioxide, the principal contributor to acid rain.

“‘Flex Your Power’ is a wonderful and creative program serving the people of California,” stated Rod Lanthorne, president of Kyocera International, Inc.  “Kyocera is honored to receive this award as it illustrates the many positive actions we are taking to preserve our environment.”

Flex Your Power is California’s statewide energy efficiency marketing and outreach campaign; since 2001 it has served as a partnership with California’s utilities, residents, businesses, institutions, government agencies and nonprofit organizations working to save energy. The combined annual energy savings of this year’s 35 award winners alone totals $71 million and 275 million kWh -- enough to power more than 45,000 homes.

ABOUT KYOCERA
Kyocera Corporation, the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of advanced ceramics. By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera Corporation has become a leading supplier of solar energy systems, telecommunications equipment, semiconductor packages, electronic components, laser printers, copiers and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2006, the company’s net sales totaled 1.18 trillion yen (approximately $10 billion).

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* kW rating based on PTC / PVUSA test conditions, adjusted for inverter efficiency estimated at 94%.